England Are Winning Against India in Spite of the System Not Because of It

It is strange to think that exactly a year ago, as England recorded their 3-0 series victory over Australia, it was widely concluded England were winning because of the system behind them. Their planning, their efficiency, the elevation of their mean, their coaching, their succession-planning, their attention to detail.

Now, a long and tumultuous year later, as England stand on the brink of a remarkable 3-1 series victory against India, it can confidently be assessed that they are winning largely in spite of their system and not because of it.

England have won two Test matches. They've played good cricket. Alastair Cook has scored some runs; he's been rewarded for trusting Moeen Ali as a spinner. Gary Ballance looks assured at No. 3. Ian Bell has found form. JosButtler seems at home in Test cricket. James Anderson and Stuart Broad look back to their best, while Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes have shown promise.

England had some luck in Southampton, and India have been truly awful, but England have still had to beat them. And beat them they have. Indeed, these two Test victories have offered encouragement and reason for optimism.

However, that England have won two Test matches does not change that Andy Flower was not sacked following England's Ashes whitewash; he was promoted.

That England have won two Test matches does not change that Flower was replaced by his predecessor, a man deemed inadequate by many, Peter Moores.

That England have won two Test matches does not change the fact that England's team stopped being a meritocracy when Kevin Pietersen was sacked for little more than expressing concern with the direction Cook, Flower and the ECB wanted to take the team.

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That England have won two Test matches does not change the fact that in a statement the ECB referred to England fans as "people outside cricket".

On Monday, Michael Vaughan backtracked on that statement. He shouldn't have.

If England win the Ashes next summer, that's when we, they, I, should and will admit to being wrong about Alastair Cook and the ECB, because, despite what Peter Mooresmay claim, two wins against an awful Indian side changes none of the alarming decisions and statements that the ECB have made since January.